Adjustable head-block for elevators of excavating-machines



(No Model.)

W. R. MERCER. ADJUSTABLE HEAD BLOCK POR ELEVATORS 0F BXGAVATINGMACHINES.

' No. 552,920. Patented Jan. 14, 1896,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

IVILLIAM R.

MERCER, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

ADJUSTABLE HEAD-BLOCK FOR ELEVATORS F EXCAVATlNG-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,920, dated January14, 1896. Application filed August 26, 1895. Serial No. 560,475. (Nomodel.)

To all w/tom it r11/ay concern,.-

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM R. MERCER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Excavating-Machine, of Which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in excavating-machines.

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable head-block overWhich the chains or ropes of an elevator-bucket may be passed, saidhead-block being adapted to be secured in its several adjusted positionsso as to act as a lateral or transverse porting-framework.

The accompanying` drawing illustrates my invention.

In the drawing, 2 2 indicate a pair of tracks which are laid upon theground parallel to and one on each side of the proposed excavation, andmounted upon these tracks is a :framework 3 carried by a series ofWheels 4. resting upon said tracks. At the front end of frame 3 ismountedasteam-engine or other source of power, (not shoivm) said enginebeing used to operate the elevator-bucket, and also a series of carswhich run upon tracks 5 5, which are laid upon the rear end of frame andextend some distance to the rear thereof along the line of the trench.

In the excavation of sewer and other like trenches the rapidity ofexcavation is of considerable importance, and for that reason frame 3 ismade of some length and the upper part thereof provided withlongitudinal rails 6 G, upon which is mounted an adjustable cross-head7. This cross-head is composed of apair of transverse bars 8 8 providedwith brackets 9, which engage rails 6 and preventany transverse movementof the crosshead, longitudinal movement of said head being prevented byany suitable means, such as bolts l() engaging the brackets and rails.Between the bars and `about midway thereof are mounted one or morepulleys l1 ll, said pulleys being adapted to receive the ropes or chains12 l2 of the elevator-bucket- Frame 3 is made about forty feet inlength, and owing to the fact that the bucket must be allowed totraverse the entire length thereof it is impossible to provide the upperpor tion of said frame With any permanent latbrace for the sup-.

eral or transverse braces. By constructing the adjustable cross-head inthe manner described above, so that it may be rigidly secured in any oneof its adjusted positions, the said cross-head forms a transverse bracefor the frame at the very point of application of the greatest stress,thus making a very strong construction.

In practice I prefer to use in connection with my device a self-fillingelevator-bucket; but any elevator-bucket may be used.

In operation the machine is placed as shown in the drawing, and onesection of the trench is excavated to the desired depth by means of theelevator-bucket, said bucket discharging its contents into a car runningupon tracks 5. The cross-head 7 is then moved forward on rails 6, isrigidly secured in its adjusted position, and another section of thetrench excavated, this operation being continued until the front end ofthe frame 3 is reached, when the said frame is moved as a Whole alongtrack 2.

By making the cross-head 7 movable it is possible to adjust it at anydesired point along the frame 3 and the excavation is materiallyexpedited, especially when a selfdilling bucket is used, a singleoperator being suihcient to con trol the entire machine.

I claim as my invention* 1. In an excavating machine, the combinationwith the frame-Work thereof, of a headblock, longitudinally adjustablealong the said frame and provided with pulleys for the reception of theelevator bucket ropes, said head-block being adapted to be rigidlysecured in any one of its adjusted positions so as to form a transversebrace for the frame- Y Work.

2. In an excavating machine, the combination with the frame-Workthereof, of a longitudinally adjustable head -block mounted thereon,said head-block adapted to be rigidly secured in any one of its adjustedpositions so as to form atransverse brace for the frame- Work,consisting of the transverse bars 8, 8, and the pulleys ll, ll mountedtherebetween, substantially as described.

A. M. Hoon, M V. Hoon.

IOO

It is hereby eertied that in Letters Patent No. 552,920, granted January14, 1896, upon the application of 'William R. Mercer, of Terre Haute,Indiana, for an improvement in Adjustable Head-Bloeks for Elevators ofExcavating-Machines, an error appears in the printed specificationrequiring correction as follows: On page 1, lines 96-99, the clauseadapted t0 be rigidly secured in any one of its adjusted positions so asto form a transverse brace for the frame-Work, should be. stricken ontand inserted before the Word mounted, line 95 as now numbered, samepage; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may eonform to the record of the easeinthe Patent Oce.

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 28th day of January, A. D. 1896.

[SEAL] JNO. M. REYNOLDS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. JOHN S. SEYMOUR,

Commissioner of Patents.

